729 research outputs found

    The cone of curves of Fano varieties of coindex four

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    We classify the cones of curves of Fano varieties of dimension greater or equal than five and (pseudo)index dim X -3, describing the number and type of their extremal rays.Comment: 27 pages; changed the numbering of Theorems, Definitions, Propositions, etc. in accordance with the published version to avoid incorrect reference

    Subcutaneous Neurotophin 4 Infusion Using Osmotic Pumps or Direct Muscular Injection Enhances Aging Rat Laryngeal Muscles

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    Laryngeal dysfunction in the elderly is a major cause of disability, from voice disorders to dysphagia and loss of airway protective reflexes. Few, if any, therapies exist that target age-related laryngeal muscle dysfunction. Neurotrophins are involved in muscle innervation and differentiation of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). It is thought that neurotrophins enhance neuromuscular transmission by increasing neurotransmitter release. The neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) become smaller and less abundant in aging rat laryngeal muscles, with evidence of functional denervation. We explored the effects of NTF4 for future clinical use as a therapeutic to improve function in aging human laryngeal muscles. Here, we provide the detailed protocol for systemic application and direct injection of NTF4 to investigate the ability of aging rat laryngeal muscle to remodel in response to NTF4 application. In this method, rats either received NTF4 either systemically via osmotic pump or by direct injection through the vocal folds. Laryngeal muscles were then dissected and used for histological examination of morphology and age-related denervation

    Cerium, gallium and zinc containing mesoporous bioactive glasscoating deposited on titanium alloy

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    Surface modification is one of the methods for improving the performance of medical implants inbiological environment. In this study, cerium, gallium and zinc substituted 80%SiO2-15%CaO-5%P2O5mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) in combination with polycaprolactone (PCL) were coated over Ti6Al4 Vsubstrates by dip-coating method in order to obtain an inorganic\u2014organic hybrid coating (MBG-PCL).Structural characterization was performed using XRD, nitrogen adsorption, SEM-EDXS, FTIR. The MBG-PCL coating uniformly covered the substrate with the thickness found to be more than 1 m. Glass andpolymer phases were detected in the coating along with the presence of biologically potent elementscerium, gallium and zinc. In addition, in vitro bioactivity was investigated by soaking the coated samplesin simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to 30 days at 37\u25e6C. The apatite-like layer was monitored by FTIR, SEM-EDXS and ICP measurements and it formed in all the samples within 15 days except zinc samples. In thisway, an attempt was made to develop a new biomaterial with improved in vitro bioactive response dueto bioactive glass coating and good mechanical strength of Ti6Al4 V alloy along with inherent biologicalproperties of cerium, gallium and zinc

    On a Conjecture of Rapoport and Zink

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    In their book Rapoport and Zink constructed rigid analytic period spaces FwaF^{wa} for Fontaine's filtered isocrystals, and period morphisms from PEL moduli spaces of pp-divisible groups to some of these period spaces. They conjectured the existence of an \'etale bijective morphism FaFwaF^a \to F^{wa} of rigid analytic spaces and of a universal local system of QpQ_p-vector spaces on FaF^a. For Hodge-Tate weights n1n-1 and nn we construct in this article an intrinsic Berkovich open subspace F0F^0 of FwaF^{wa} and the universal local system on F0F^0. We conjecture that the rigid-analytic space associated with F0F^0 is the maximal possible FaF^a, and that F0F^0 is connected. We give evidence for these conjectures and we show that for those period spaces possessing PEL period morphisms, F0F^0 equals the image of the period morphism. Then our local system is the rational Tate module of the universal pp-divisible group and enjoys additional functoriality properties. We show that only in exceptional cases F0F^0 equals all of FwaF^{wa} and when the Shimura group is GLnGL_n we determine all these cases.Comment: v2: 48 pages; many new results added, v3: final version that will appear in Inventiones Mathematica

    Corrosion behavior assessment of an Al-Cu alloy manufactured via laser powder bed fusion

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    Additively manufactured Aluminum-Copper alloys are attracting interest because of their high tensile strength. Nevertheless, the presence of Cu strongly affects the corrosion performances. In this work, the corrosion behavior of an innovative laser powder bed fusion-processed 2139 alloy was investigated, and its corrosion performances were compared to the well-consolidated AlSi10Mg alloy, as well as the parent wrought alloy. Electrochemical, Kelvin probe microscopy and intergranular corrosion tests were performed. The unique corrosion morphology at melt pool boundaries are presented and discussed alongside with the effect of surface finishing and heat treatments

    Enhancement of Aging Rat Laryngeal Muscles with Endogenous Growth Factor Treatment

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    Clinical evidence suggests that laryngeal muscle dysfunction is associated with human aging. Studies in animal models have reported morphological changes consistent with denervation in laryngeal muscles with age. Life‐long laryngeal muscle activity relies on cytoskeletal integrity and nerve–muscle communication at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). It is thought that neurotrophins enhance neuromuscular transmission by increasing neurotransmitter release. We hypothesized that treatment with neurotrophin 4 (NTF4) would modify the morphology and functional innervation of aging rat laryngeal muscles. Fifty‐six Fischer 344xBrown Norway rats (6‐ and 30‐mo age groups) were used to evaluate to determine if NTF4, given systemically (n = 32) or directly (n = 24), would improve the morphology and functional innervation of aging rat thyroarytenoid muscles. Results demonstrate the ability of rat laryngeal muscles to remodel in response to neurotrophin application. Changes were demonstrated in fiber size, glycolytic capacity, mitochondrial, tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk), NMJ content, and denervation in aging rat thyroarytenoid muscles. This study suggests that growth factors may have therapeutic potential to ameliorate aging‐related laryngeal muscle dysfunction
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